Course descriptionCourse objectivesGradesCourse SyllabusScience 1001 – First Year Experience for Science and Pre-professional studentsDixie State College of UtahFall 2011Professor: Sarah BlackOffice: SCI 115BOffice hours: 2:15-2:30 pm Tues, Thurs Phone: (435) 879-4411 option 11E-mail address: [email protected] (best way to contact me!)Course times: Tues and Thurs from 12:00 – 12:50 pm in SCI 116CRN: 43793Course descriptionSCI 1001 is a First Year Experience® course designed to help new or returning students make a successful transition to being a college student. It will help you get to know Dixie State College, understand your major or area of study, succeed academically, and learn strategies for dealing with college life.This course is designed for students who are interested in physical science majors such as chemistry, physics, and geology, and for students who plan to apply to medical school, dental school, pharmacy school, and other pre-professional programs. It combines major and career exploration in these areas with other topics that are useful to all students. Course objectivesAt the end of this semester, you should:1) Know your way around Dixie State College. This includes knowing:• where to find buildings and services that you may need on campus• what campus services are available to you• how to do things like add classes, drop classes, change your major, check your account balance, use your dmail, and so on• how to get involved in college life• what your rights and responsibilities are as a student2) Understand your major or area of study. This includes knowing:• what General Education is, and how to fulfill the GE requirements• how to chose a major that is right for you• what the course requirements are in your major • how to construct a graduation plan• what kinds of careers your major will prepare you for3) Know some strategies for dealing with college life. This includes:• managing your time• staying safe and secure on campus• recognizing and dealing with stress• staying healthy• dealing with financial issues• networking with other people• staying motivated when the going gets tough4) Know how to succeed academically. This includes knowing how to:• use a course syllabus• read a college textbook• talk to your professors• take good notes• write good papers• study effectively• recognize and deal with test anxiety• take tests effectively• avoid academic dishonesty• take advantage of your learning styleRequired MaterialsThere is no textbook for this course; the materials you need will be provided by the instructor or will be available on the course website and on Blackboard Vista. If you do not have internet access at home, you can access the course website at the computer center in the basement of the library or the Smith Computer Center. You can find the website for this course at the following address: http://cactus.dixie.edu/smblack/sci1001On this website you will find the following: • announcements (updated weekly)• a class schedule showing dates when each topic will be covered and when assignments are due• copies of all materials given out in classWe will also be using Blackboard Vista to complete some on-line learning modules.GradesYour grade will be assigned based your attendance, online learning modules, assignments, and a final exam. An individualized grade report will be e-mailed to your Dmail account on a regular basis. You may also e-mail me at any time to ask about your grade.Assignments % of gradeAttendance 15%Online modules 50%Assignments 25%Final exam 10%Attendance: Since this is a discussion course, your attendance is vital. Every day you are in class you will receive 10 points. There isn’t any way to make up for these points; however, to allow for unforeseen circumstances, you may miss any two days without penalty. Roll will be taken at the beginning of the class, so make sure to come on time. If you are late, please make sure to let me know that you are here. If you miss class, you are still responsible to turn in assignments that were due that day, and to check the course website to find out about new assignments.On-line modules: We will be using Blackboard Vista for 16 on-line modules that you will complete on your own at a computer. The first two will be done together during our class time on Thursday, Aug 25 in a computer class room in 149 HAZY; after that you will do them on your own or during class time on Thurs. These modules will be due during the first half of the semester, with two due every week on Thurs at midnight. If you are not able to complete them in time, you may finish them late with a 10% penalty any time during the semester. All parts of the module must be finished on time in order to get full credit.Assignments: During class, we will discuss several subjects that will be of use to you, and you will have some hands on assignments where you can apply these topics. Most of these will be due towards the middle or end of the semester. Late assignments will be accepted with a 10% penalty.These assignments are not just “busywork” to give you something to do – each fulfills one of the objectives given at the first of this syllabus, and will help you to become a successful student. Descriptions of all assignments are found on the course website – if you are absent, you are responsible to find out what you missed and make it up. Final exam: To make sure that you are have understood and can apply the main principles of the course, a written final exam will be given. It will consist of short essay questions. We will hold a review during the last few weeks of class to help you prepare.Letter grades will be assigned based on % of points earned on the scale shown below.A 93.0 – 100% C+ 77.0 – 79.9%A- 90.0 – 92.9% C 73.0 - 76.9%B+ 87.0 – 89.9% C- 70.0 – 72.9%B 83.0 – 86.9% D 50.0 – 69.9%B- 80.0 – 82.9% F 0 - 49.9%A grade of “incomplete” will only be given in circumstances where a student has been doing well in the class but has a difficulty such as serious illness during the last week or two of the semester.The First-Year Experience® is a service mark of the University of South Carolina. A license may be granted upon written request to use the term The First-Year Experience in association with educational programmatic approaches to enhance the first college year. This license is not transferable without written